Welcome to the Practice Education Hub

Our Practice Educator Course

When social work students are on their placement, practice educators take responsibility for the social work student’s learning and assessment and makes the recommendation regarding the student’s competence to the practice assessment panels and the examination boards.

Being heavily involved in the student’s practice education, means that they are being supported to learn not only from the practice educator and professionals they are working with, but also, people with lived experience of social work.

The course consists of two units;

Enabling Work Based Learning (EWBL – Unit 1) and Supervising a Learner in Practice (SLP – Unit 2).

By the end of the first unit, successful candidates will have developed the skills and confidence to contribute to the learning and assessment of a range of work-based learners and take full responsibility for the learning and assessment of a first placement social work student (or equivalent).

By the end of the second unit, successful candidates will have fully developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to take a leading role in supporting and assessing workplace learning including the assessment of qualifying and / or post-qualified professional learners at all levels and stages of study.

How to Apply

Students whose fees are to be paid by their employer should follow their employers application procedures prior to applying online. Anyone who is paying their own fees should apply through Wozzad the online booking system.

Links to Wozzad:

Enabling Work Based Learning

Level 6 – https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115899?courseId=115899&tabId=27

Level 7 – https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115900?courseId=115900&tabId=27

Supervising a Learner in Practice

Level 6 – https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115923?courseId=115923&tabId=27

Level 7 – https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115880?courseId=115880&tabId=27

Admissions
How do I apply?

Students whose fees are to be paid by their employer should follow their employers’ application procedures prior to applying online. Anyone who is paying their own fees should apply through the online booking system.

Links to Bournemouth University’s Online Booking System:

Enabling Work Based Learning:

https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115899?courseId=115899&tabId=27(Level 6)

https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115900?courseId=115900&tabId=27(Level 7)

 

Supervising a Learner in Practice:

https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115923?courseId=115923&tabId=27(Level 6)

https://www.applycpd.com/BU/courses/115880?courseId=115880&tabId=27(Level 7)

How much will this cost?

Enabling Work Based Learning (Unit 1): £675

Supervising a Learner in Practice (Unit2): £500

Both units have to be successfully completed to qualify as a Practice Educator in Social Work.

Is there anything my funding organisation need to organise for me with prior to starting?

Your funding Local Authority/Agency arrange for you to have access to a minimum of 2 social work students for you to work with across both units, as well as a Practice Assessor for unit 2.

Can I apply independently from my workplace?

Yes, you can apply independently from your workplace.  It is your responsibility to organise a Practice Assessor and a minimum of 2 students to work with.  If you may struggle to access a Practice Assessor please contact us so we can see if we can assist in some way.

Eligibility
What are the eligibility criteria for the course?

BASW has set the eligibility criteria for enrolment onto practice education courses: these are:

“i. Practitioners must have practised for at least two years following qualification and should demonstrate ability to practice at PCF Experienced Social Work level.

  1. During this minimum two-year period, practitioners interested in qualifying as a practice educator should demonstrate their interest and commitment to practice education through activities such as supporting students and other new staff.

iii. Candidates for a PE qualification will participate in a selection process for acceptance on a course” (BASW Practice Educator Professional Standards for Social Work, 2019, p.13 For more information please follow link to https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/peps-for-social-work.pdf.”

Unit information
Do I need to have completed Unit 1 prior to commencing Unit 2?

There are two units to complete to qualify as a Practice Educator in Social Work.

In order to proceed to the second unit of the course, Supervising a Learner in Practice, there are some requirements of the course. The Trainee Practice Educator is required to have attended the taught element of Unit 1 and also have worked with a social work learner in practice as a part of the assessed requirements for Unit 1 and submitted the assessment for Unit 1 (if completed the equivalent of this unit in another institution please enquire at Bournemouth University if you need to undertake this unit prior to undertaking Unit 2).

If the Trainee Practice Educator has a Bournemouth University approved extension which goes beyond the application window for Unit 2, or has failed Unit 1, then please speak with the Social Work Practice Education Team because the Trainee Practice Educator may still be able to apply for Unit 2.

Please note, in order to qualify as a Practice Educator, both units of the social work Practice Education course need to have been successfully completed and all assessments passed, therefore if continuing onto Unit 2 prior to successfully completing Unit 1, please be aware of the risks to qualifying involved.

How is the course structured?

The course consists of two units:

  • Enabling Work Based Learning (EWBL – Unit 1); and,
  • Supervising a Learner in Practice (SLP – Unit 2).

By the end of the first unit, successful candidates will have developed the skills and confidence to contribute to the learning and assessment of a range of work-based learners and take full responsibility for the learning and assessment of a first placement social work student (or equivalent).

By the end of the second unit, successful candidates will have fully developed the skills, knowledge and confidence to take a leading role in supporting and assessing workplace learning including the assessment of qualifying and / or post-qualified professional learners at all levels and stages of study.

What are the course expectations?

Each unit offers live online workshops which provide an opportunity for learners to come together via a virtual classroom to gain information, share ideas and discuss their experiences. They introduce and encourage critical debate about key themes related to enabling work-based learning and supervising a learner in practice and will support you to explore the work that you have carried out independently.

There is also an expectation to complete self-managed learning. You will be provided with a package of reading and reflective exercises that have been designed to help you critically explore your practice-based experiences and develop a deeper understanding of links between practice and theory. Successful candidates will have free access to the BU library, including its online resources.

Each unit requires the successful candidate to meet the BASW Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) as well as submit a focused assignment which meets the intended learning outcomes of each unit. This will be discussed within the workshops as well as access to guidance on the expectations and how to complete the assessment.

How do I access the learning materials?

You will be given access to Brightspace – Bournemouth University’s Learning Portal – where there is an array of resources and tools to support you on your learning journey.

How do I access the online workshops?

You will access your online teaching days via Brightspace – Bournemouth University’s Learning Portal.

What support will I be offered?

You will be offered tutorials as a group. Individual tutorials are also available on request.

Will I be given a student card and have access to the library?

Once you have been enrolled on the course, you will be issued with a Student ID card which will gain you access to the Library and the Bournemouth Gateway Building.

How long will I be studying for?

The course will take approximately 18 months from the start of Unit 1 to completion of Unit 2.

Assessment criteria
How will I be assessed?

You will be supporting, mentoring and assessing a minimum of 2 social work students across the 2 units.

A minimum of 3 observations of you supervising the qualifying social workers across the 2 placements will be assessed. You will be assessed by a qualified Practice Educator and/or Assessor.

The Practice Record of Requirement, to be met across both units, are assessed against the BASW PEPS domains – https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/peps-for-social-work.pdf (see Section 2, Table 1).

You will also be required to submit an academic assignment for both units.

How do I keep my PE qualification current?

BASW England has developed refreshed standards to promote the development, and awareness, of Professional Standards in Social Work Education within the social work profession and with people with lived experience of social work.

It is hoped that this document will be used to promote the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) and lead to a wider understanding of the role of the practice educator (PE) by students, employers and anyone involved in practice education.

The BASW PEPS expectations are https://www.basw.co.uk/system/files/resources/peps-for-social-work.pdf

Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS)

BASW England has developed refreshed standards to promote the development, and awareness, of Professional Standards in Social Work Education within the social work profession and with people with lived experience of social work.

It is hoped that this document will be used to promote the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) and lead to a wider understanding of the role of the practice educator (PE) by students, employers and anyone involved in practice education.

Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS)

Meet the Team
  • Dr Lou Oliver

    Unit Lead and Unit Tutor

    Louise is a lecturer in social work and is the lead for the Social Work Practice Educator Units: Enabling Work Based Learning and Supervising a Learner in Practice. She also teaches within the pre-qualifying Bachelors and Masters programmes, including the Post-Graduate Diploma, Step Up To Social Work.

    Louise received the Vice Chancellor Scholarship to undertake and complete her PhD, on problematic communications in the form of secrets and secrecy and the influence this has upon child-to-parent violence and abuse. She continues to conduct research focusing upon family conflict, violence and abuse. She is also interested in game-based learning and gamification and is working on several collaborative projects, using these methods, to enhance learning in health and social care practice.

    Previous career: Louise has worked within children’s social care since 2004, as a Family Support Worker and later a qualified as a Social Worker. Prior to that she worked within the independent sector, working with adults who were homeless and using substances and also in a residential setting to support adults develop independent living skills.

  • David Neal

    Unit Tutor

    I am a lecturer in Social Work, currently employed as a Team Manager in the Academy of Social Work in Plymouth City Council’s Children Services. I provide visiting lectures and practice education to a broad range of qualifying Social Work programmes and deliver Bournemouth Universities Practice Education Qualification in the far South West peninsula region. I am particularly interested in therapeutic social work and how busy social workers can find opportunity to apply therapeutic models and methods to promote meaningful and sustained change for families. My research interests are in the field of practice education.

    Publications:

    Neal, D. & Regan, A., (2016) Observations of student practice: What difference does observer qualification make?, in Bellinger, A, & Ford, D. (Eds.) (2016) Practice Placement in Social Work: Innovative approaches for effective teaching and learning, Bristol, Policy Press.

    Following a career in the Royal Navy I qualified as a Social Worker in 2002, working for the Royal Navy’s own dedicated social work service. I subsequently moved to the University of Plymouth, where I lectured for 8 years prior to returning to a front line educational role. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education.

    david.neal@plymouth.gov.uk
  • Kate Kenny

    Unit Tutor

    I’m Katie Kenny. I’m a fully qualified social worker and practice educator in Solihull.

    I’ve been qualified since 2004, and always worked within Children and Families in Solihull.

    I’ve had various roles in different teams, but specialising in direct work to support positive changes, using Signs of Safety approach.

    During my time in frontline practice, I had 4 students and loved supporting them with their learning and development.

    I moved across into Workforce Development in 2019 and become the lead in delivering and supporting all things Practice Education! This meant delivering and working with Bournemouth university to deliver their Practice Education award.

    I also deliver training on Chronologies, Child and Family Assessments and Outcome Focussed plans.

    I am committed to ensuring that social workers involved in Practice Education are well supported and valued and that we develop highly skilled Practice Educators who can provide social work students with a valuable learning experience.

  • Thomasin Wills

    Programme Support Officer – CPD

    Thomasin joined the University in January 2022. She has worked in a variety of Project Coordination roles in both Local Government and Charitable organisations over 18 years. Thomasin manages on-course support for a range of CPD courses within the team. She is responsible for enrolment, maintaining student records, the assessment process and other related processes.

    If you have any questions regarding the programme, please come to me.

    twills@bournemouth.ac.uk
  • NCPP Bournemouth University

    Sandra Adye

    Business Support Manager

    I am an experienced and motivated manager, renowned for my enthusiastic approach to challenges, empowering and motivating others and inspiring change. I have a background in managing Work Based Learning Programmes and proven experience in working with external stakeholders. As a Business Support Manager, I am responsible for day-to-day oversight of business operations, as well as developing and enhancing client relationships across the full breadth of HSS activities. These relationships include clients from health, social care, voluntary and private sectors at operational, as well as strategic management level.

    I always have a smile on my face and am proactive, pragmatic, positive and flexible with a ‘can do’ attitude.

    Hobbies/interests:  Travelling, walking, yoga, dancing, cooking, gardening and spending time with family, friends and my dog ‘Bertie’.

    sadye@bournemouth.ac.uk
  • Tilia Lenz

    Framework Lead

    Tilia is a Senior Lecturer for Social Work and the CPD Framework lead for Social Sciences.

    She is a qualified Social Pedagogue and registered Social Worker and spent 15 years in front line Children’s Services as a practitioner and manager. She undertook her MA studies in Managing and Developing Services in Health and Social Care at BU with the focus on Organisational Cultures and Staff Performance. She is now undertaking research for her PhD on ‘Relationship Performance Management in Child Protection’. She has a particular interest in practitioner wellbeing and resilience.

    Tilia also teaches on the qualifying degree courses and is unit lead for Law and Social Policy.

    You can follow Tilia on Twitter: @Lenz.Tilia

    lenzt@bournemouth.ac.uk
Useful Contacts

Dr Louise Oliver – Unit Lead Practice Education – LOliver@bournemouth.ac.uk

Thomasin Wills – Programme Support Officer – twills@bournemouth.ac.uk

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